Tag Archives: SoftBank

Openai secures record-breaking $400 billion contract with SoftBank

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Openai announced a $400 billion funding round that valued ChatGpt makers at $300 million. Partnering with SoftBank, Openai aims to push the boundaries of AI research towards AGI (artificial general information) with significant computing power.

SoftBank believes in achieving “artificial super intelligence” (ASI) surpassing human intelligence, praising Openai as the best partner to reach this goal. SoftBank plans to invest $10 billion initially and $300 billion by 2025, subject to meeting certain conditions.

Facing competition from Deepseek and Meta in the open source AI space, Openai announced plans to develop a more open, generative AI model. Additionally, Openai is expanding its user base rapidly with the latest image generation features in ChatGpt.


Openai, led by CEO Sam Altman, previously favored a closed model for AI development. However, with evolving priorities, Openai is now embracing open source to allow developers more flexibility in adapting AI technologies.

Critics of closed AI models, like Google, argue that open models pose higher risks and are more susceptible to misuse. Former Openai investor Elon Musk urges Openai to prioritize open source safety.

Companies and governments prefer AI models they can control for data security reasons. Meta and Deepseek offer customizable models, enabling users to download and modify them to suit their needs.

Commenting on the success of new features in ChatGpt, Altman mentioned a surge in users overwhelming Openai’s resources. This advancement underscores the growing interest and demand for AI advancements.

Agence France-Presse

Source: www.theguardian.com

Invest in Talks with SoftBank for OpenAI deal

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SoftBank, Japan’s Investment Group, is in talks to invest up to $25 billion (£2 billion) in Openai, making it the largest financial backer of the startup behind ChatGPT.

According to the Financial Times, the potential investment could range from $15 billion to $25 billion in the San Francisco-based company.

Other investors, including TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, and British chip designer Arm, have already supported Openai and recently participated in a fundraising round that valued the company at $157 billion. Microsoft, currently the largest shareholder of Openai, also joined the round.

Last week, Openai and SoftBank announced the formation of Stargate in collaboration with Oracle, which Donald Trump called “the largest AI infrastructure project in history.” The partnership aims to build AI system data centers with an initial investment of $100 billion.

Multiple sources familiar with the matter quoted by FT said that SoftBank’s potential investment includes a commitment from a Japanese company to Stargate. Elon Musk, the wealthiest person in the world and a prominent figure in the Trump administration, has claimed that Stargate’s supporters may not actually have the funds.

Sam Altman, the CEO of Openai, refuted Musk’s claims on his social media platform X, stating, “This is a great opportunity for the company. I understand that it may not always align with your company’s interests, but in your new role, I hope you will consider it.”

Openai faced competition this month from Chinese rival Deepseek, whose latest chatbot topped the Apple Free App Store charts and impacted AI-related stocks on Monday.

Altman initially acknowledged the competition from Deepseek, stating that “having new competitors keeps things lively,” but later claimed that the Chinese company may be using Openai technology to develop competing products.

The proposal for SoftBank’s investment in Openai, led by CEO Masayoshi Son, is reportedly under review by senior executives and the board of Openai. However, it has not been confirmed.

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Both Openai and SoftBank have declined to comment on the matter.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trump Reveals $500 Billion Partnership in Artificial Intelligence with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank

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Donald Trump has initiated what he refers to as “the largest AI infrastructure project in history,” a $500 billion collaboration involving OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, with the goal of establishing a network of data centers throughout the United States.

The newly formed partnership, named Stargate, will construct the necessary data centers and computing infrastructure to propel the advancement of artificial intelligence. Trump stated that over 100,000 individuals will be deployed “almost immediately” as part of this initiative, emphasizing the objective of creating jobs in America.

This announcement signifies one of Trump’s initial significant business moves since his return to office, as the U.S. seeks new strategies to maintain its AI superiority over China. The announcement was made during an event attended by Mr. Ellison, Softbank’s Masayoshi Son, Open AI’s Sam Altman, and other prominent figures.

President Trump expressed his intention to leverage the state of emergency to promote project development, particularly in the realm of energy infrastructure.

“We need to build this,” declared President Trump. “They require substantial power generation, and we are streamlining the process for them to undertake this production within their own facilities.”

This initiative comes on the heels of President Trump reversing the policies of his predecessor, President Joe Biden. A 100-page executive order signals a significant shift in U.S. AI policy regarding safety standards and content watermarking.

While the investment is substantial, it aligns with broader market projections – financial firm Blackstone has already predicted $1 trillion in U.S. data center investments over a five-year period.

President Trump portrayed the announcement as a vote of confidence in his administration, noting that its timing coincided with his return to power. He stated, “This monumental endeavor serves as a strong statement of belief in America’s potential under new leadership.”

The establishment of Stargate follows a prior announcement by President Trump regarding a $20 billion AI data center investment by UAE-based DAMAC Properties. While locations for the new data centers in the U.S. are under consideration, the project will commence with an initial site in Texas.

Source: www.theguardian.com